Fall concerts include musical reunions with Phish, Chris Brown

Sam McDonald, smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732

Fall is a great time for homecomings. So maybe it's not a coincidence that Hampton Roads will see several musical prodigal sons return this autumn.

Phish, the legendary jam band, is from Vermont but the group has forged a special relationship with Hampton Coliseum, where it will play three nights in October. The group has performed in the region regularly in recent years, but it's bypassed the Coliseum since March 2009.

The band's loyal following is gearing up for a return to a building fans affectionately call The Mothership.

"Phish is at it full force, peaking once again in a career renaissance," wrote a fan at the site Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts, offering an overview of the band's summer shows. "As we look forward ... to fall tour, nothing in the universe could be finer." That tour begins in Hampton.

Chris Brown, the pop-R&B star and tabloid favorite, returns home to Virginia for a show at Scope in Norfolk Friday, Sept. 27. That's assuming medical or legal trouble doesn't interfere between now and then.

Last month, the 24-year-old Tappahannock native reportedly suffered a seizure and summed emergency personnel for help. A representative later told the Los Angeles Times that the episode was caused by "emotional stress," and "nonstop negativity."

While Brown's personal struggles seem far from over, his music career hasn't suffered too much. He won his first Grammy last year for his album, "F.A.M.E.," and his 2012 disc "Fortune," reached No. 1 and sold 135,000 copies in its first week, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Here's your pop music concert forecast for the autumn. Get ready for both rock 'n' roll reunions and visits from mysterious strangers.

Autumn live music highlights

Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News

Sept. 27 — Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Highlight: Clad in black leather and sporting a perpetual sneer, Joan Jett embodies a classic form of rock rebellion. These days, though, she smiles between the scowls. Back in August, she was honored with "Joan Jett Day" in West Hollywood. "You've got to fight for what you believe in," she told Rolling Stone magazine. "If you don't try, you'll always wonder and that's a horrible way to live."

Highlight: An experimental and free-thinking string quartet, Turtle Island found a soul mate in Nellie McKay. The quirky, sharp-tongued songwriter has made a career out of upending expectations. That's why I wouldn't presume to predict what kind of music they'll perform together at The American Theatre. The set list could be anything from Doris Day hits to nuggets from Kurt Weill.

Highlight: What's a left-field Icelandic rock band doing in a town like Norfolk? That's a good question. Someone seems to think that this band of critical darlings is ready to rock arenas. Whether or not that's true, the group's show at the Ted Constant Center is sure to be a memorable display of odd drama and artful sonic adventure.

Oct. 14 — House Party Tour featuring A Day to Remember, All-Time Low, Pierce The Veil and The Wonder Years